Hitching-post.



E. ENGR-LOM.

HITGHING POST. APPLIoATIoN FILED APR. 12, 1912.

Patented June 10, 1913.

flbtozwu coLuMmA PLANOGRAPH C0.. WASHINGTON. D. C.

TINTTFL ERIC ENGBLOM, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

HITGI-IIN'G-POST.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, ERIC ENGBLOM, citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hitching-Posts; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters ot' reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in hitching posts, my object being to provide a device of this character which shall be simple in construction, reliable, durable and eiiicient in use.

More specifically, my improvement consists of a post whose body portion is preterably composed ot cement or other similar material adapted when in plast-ic form to be molded into any desired shape. `Within the central portion ot the body of the post is located a metallic tube in which is placed a weight connected with one extremity of a chain whose opposite extremity is exposed outside the post and preferably contains a snap-hook adapted to be connected wit-h a ring of a horses bridle, or other similar attachment to the horse or other animal which it is desired to hitch. Communicat-` ing with the tube located within the body ot the post is a passage leading to the outside through which the chain passes. rThis outer passage is equipped with a plate in which is formed a slot of irregular shape communicating with the main opening. The chain is ot' such size that it slides freely through the main opening, and when a sutlicient length of the chain is outside the post, the chain, where it passes through the opening in the outer plate, is slipped into the slot communicating with the said opening thus locking the chain against further movement and supporting the weight in the desired position of adjustment. As soon as the animal is unhitched, the `chain may be moved from the locking slot into the main opening when the downward movement of the weight will draw the chain into the post, leaving only its snap-hook extremity exposed.

Having briefly outlined my improved construction, I will now proceed to describe Specification of Letters latent.

Application led April 12. 1912.

Patented June 10, 1913.

Serial No. 690,398.

the same in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawing.

In this drawing, Figure -1 is an elevation of my improved hitching post. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a view'of the plate containing the opening through which the chain passes as it leaves the post. This view is taken `looking in the direction of arrow 3 Fig. 2, `but shown on a larger scale. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the portion of the tube which communicates with the outer passage through which the chain passes. The parts in this view are shown on a larger scale than in Figs. l and 2.

The same reference characters indicatethe same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate the body of the post which is preferably composed of cement. This post, so far as its exterior shape is concerned, may be of any suitable design. Itis also evident that its size may be regulated as desired. Cast or molded within the body of the post -is a tube or pipe 6 whose upper extremity is connected with a coupling-member 7 by means of screw-threads. This coupling is also connected at its upper extremity with a shortpipe-member S. The coupling has an opening in one side as shown at 9, the said opening being surrounded by a nipple 10 into which is threaded a sho-rt pipe-member 12 whose outer extremity is threaded to receive a cap-plate 13 having a main opening lli communicating with the cent-ral tube. Communicating with the main opening is a curved slot 15 leading to a horizontallyarranged slot 16. IVithin the tube is located a weight 17 connected with one extremity of a hitching chain 18 the opposite extremity of the chain being provided with a snap-hook 19 which is located outside the post whereby it is always exposed for hitching purposes. The upper portion of the chain engages an anti-trictional roller 20 which is located at the angle formed by the tubular member 12 and the body of the tube within the post. The chain, as it passes over the roller, changes its direction and passes out through the tubular member 12 and through the opening 14 until the desired length of chain is exposed. Then the chain is passed from the main opening of the plate 13 through the grooved slot l5 into the slotmember 16, which is of sufficient width to receive a chain with the link flat-wise, but

which will not allow the adjacent link to pass through, since, in the style of chain shown, the adjacent links occupy positions at right angles to each other. For this reason, when the chain is moved into the slot 1G, it will remain in the adjusted position. By virtue of this construction, only the exact length or chain desired need be eX- posed beyond the post, consequently the animal may be so hitched that he cannot get his head to the ground.

From the `foregoing description the use of my improved hitching post will be readily understood.

Assuming that the chain is in the position illustrated in Fig. 1 ot the drawing, if it is desired to hitch the animal, the exposed snap-hook extremity of the chain Will be grasped by the user and passed from the slotemember 16 through the slot-member 15 into the opening 1li. The chain may then be pulled out of the post to the desired length, the snap-hook being connected With the ring of the animals bridle, or with any other suitable device for hitching purposes. A link of the chain is then slipped from tliefopening 1st through the slot 15 into the slot-member 1G, Where it Will be locked against movement in either direction except by design.

The shape of the openings 14, 15, and 1G of the cap plate constitutes an important part of my invention. rlhe curved slot 15 is of such a Width as to permit a link of the chain to pass from the opening 1A to the slot 16, or vice versa, only when guided by the hand. With my improved construction there is no liability that the chain will be unfastened through shaking of the head of the animal hitched.

there the body of the post is composed of cement or similar material, the tube is composed of metal and forms a metal reinforcement for the cement or other suitable material. In this event, the tube periorms a double function constituting a receptacle for the Weight and a run-Way for the chain connected therewith, and at the same time provides the necessary metal reinforcement for the cement body-member.

Having thus described my invention, What l claim is:

A hitching post having a body member equipped with a longitudinally disposed passage and a laterally communicating passage near the upper end of the post, a cap plate applied to the post at the outer eX- tremity of the lateral passage, said plate having an opening composed of a circular portion, a straight horizontal slot and a curved slot joining said circular portion and straight slot and extending from said straight slot at approximately a right angle; a Weight slidable in the longitudinal passage, a chain attached to said Weight and extending through said passages and the opening in said plate, the links of said chain being ot' a size to permit the chain to slide 'freely through the circular portion of the opening in the cap plate and to permit any one link to be guided through said curved slot. into said straight slot, but at the same time preventing any accidental passage from the circular portion to the straight slot, or vice versa.

ln testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of tivo Witnesses.

ERIC ENGBLOM.

fitnesses A. J. OBRIEN, A. E. ADAMS.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, I). C. 

